US Open 2017 Prize Money is Now $50 Million!

The prize money for sports had been increasing every year and this year is simply eye-popping! This year’s US Open will become the first tennis tournament to top $50 million (£39m) in prize money following a nine per cent increase in the total purse.

Winners of the men’s and women’s singles titles will each earn $3.7m (£2.86m), over £600,000 more than Wimbledon winners Roger Federer and Garbine Muguruza.

Runners-up at Flushing Meadows will pocket $1.825m (£1.4m) from the $50.4m total pot.

The US Open remains the most lucrative slam of the four majors. It offers a mighty £1m more in prize money to the men’s and winner’s champions than that of Roland Garros.

While Wimbledon witnessed a number of first-round retirements and withdrawals which led to criticism that critics players were only starting matches so they could collect their pay cheques, the US Open has not reduced their prize pot to first-round departures.

Organisers at Flushing Meadows will pay out £38,610 to first-round losers, over £3k more than their SW19 counterparts.

The men’s and women’s doubles champion teams will each earn $675,000 (£521,235), also the highest in US Open history.

The qualifying tournament for the season’s final grand slam will offer more than $2.9 million in prize money, a 49.2 per cent increase from 2016.

“Five years ago, we committed to the players that total player compensation for players would reach $50 million at the US Open, and we are honoring that commitment,” USTA President Katrina Adams said.

“In addition to unprecedented prize money increases, players also will see a host of new amenities at this year’s tournament including upgrades to player dining, a more generous meal allowance, upgrades to all player workout facilities, and additional quiet room space.

“Our goal is to make every experience at the US Open, whether for the players, our fans, or our partners, the best, world-class experience possible.”

This year’s slam in New York, which runs from Aug 28 to Sept 10 will be without last year’s men’s finalists after defending champion Stan Wawrinka and runner-up Novak Djokovic both ended their seasons early through injury.

Angelique Kerber will look to defend her title in a wide open women’s field which could witness a fourth different slam winner this year.